The Geoparkea will maintain its World Geopark status for a new four-year period, with the approval of UNESCO. The international organization announced its decision yesterday during the 11th session of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council held in Paris, France. As in the previous instance, the Geoparkea successfully passed the review with the highest possible rating, earning the 'Green Card' for its work in scientific research, conservation, education, and nature tourism. Experts from the IUGS have described Geoparkea as a "strong and healthy" geopark.
This marks the fourth time the Basque Coast Geopark has secured renewal of its support to remain in the Global Network for another four years, and this time, experts identified no corrective measures. "This validation provides a guarantee for the Geoparkea," stated Leire Barriuso, manager of Geoparkea. "The report from the UNESCO evaluation team notes that after many years, we have become a solid geopark; they praise the involvement of its inhabitants and our strategy, which is both realistic and ambitious," she added.
The municipalities of Deba, Mutriku, and Zumaia, which together form the Geoparkea, have welcomed the news with satisfaction. According to Ainhize Azpiazu, mayor of Mutriku and president of Geoparkea, "This fourth revalidation is no less important; behind this recognition lies the immense work of countless individuals, entities, companies, and institutions that have made this achievement possible." Alazne Txurruka, mayor of Deba, emphasized that "this recognition encourages us to continue working to preserve our territory and promote its development." Meanwhile, Iñaki Ostolaza, mayor of Zumaia, expressed that "the revalidation confirms our vision and helps us renew our hope for a bright future for Geoparkea."
Leire Barriuso congratulated all the stakeholders of the Basque Coast Geoparkea for this shared accomplishment and thanked them for their essential collaboration. "Congratulations and thank you to everyone who has stood by the geopark on this intense journey (citizens, associations, companies, municipal representatives, mayors...) for jointly overcoming this evaluation. It has been the result of everyone's work and gives us the impetus to continue working for many more years," said the manager of the Basque Coast Geoparkea.
Two UNESCO experts conducted the evaluation visit for Geoparkea last spring, from May 10th to 13th. Emmaline Rosado-González (Mixteca Alta Geoparkea, Mexico) and Alexandru Andrasanu (Hateg Geoparkea, Romania) undertook the task of analyzing the management and progress of the Basque Coast Geoparkea over the past four years. They visited the main points of interest within the Basque Coast Geoparkea over four days and had the opportunity to meet with various stakeholders and representatives from different local and national institutions.
The UNESCO mission report on Geoparkea highlights that “the Basque Coast UNESCO Global Geopark is a consolidated geopark, possessing solid governance, a good management team, excellent geoscientists, and a stable financial situation, in addition to strong involvement at the local, provincial, regional, and international levels.”
